IC INBOX [ERKU]

[calcitrants]

"You have reached Ignis Scientia. Please leave a message, and I will get back to you presently."
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text | day the sun returns!

[allumer]

wanna go out with me today?

[ As soon as he sends the text he realizes oh that sounds. Weird. ]

i don't mean like go out like. like go out. i mean go out like go out. go outside. be outside. with me

you get what i mean right??

just come over to the fishing pond

[calcitrants]

Yes, of course. I'll be with you in a few minutes.

[ noctis is cute whenever he's flustered, and ignis is happy to remind him that he can never deny him a thing, not when noctis is so important to him. he packs some sandwiches, too, because now that he has gourmet items turning up at his door weekly, he can feed noctis more prime things: this time it's a hearty seasoned roast chicken sandwich with lettuce cleverly slid in between the meat chunks.

he makes his way to the fishing pond, blinking in the bright sunlight as he offers him the sandwich wrapped in a clean, large leaf. ]

Here.

[allumer]

[ Can't believe that after being welcomed on a fishing not!date Ignis would still try to ruin the mood with greens. It's a beautiful sunny day, why ruin it like that??

Noctis isn't really fishing for himself or Ignis, more for the usual stray cats, a handful gathered around the fishing pond along with him, though they mostly seem preoccupied with grooming themselves and laying out in the nice warm sunlight that has suddenly graced the island. Even Rascal the cat is flopped out neary Noct, tail twitching lazily on the ground, looking perfectly content. That is until Ignis approaches. Just as Noct turns around and prepares to thank Ignis for bringing him some lunch the cat is eagerly rubbing against his and Ignis' legs. Noctis huffs, trying to shove it way with his foot. ]

Hey, I just fed you two fish. Two. This is for me.

[ Rascal simply meows louder in defiance. Noct rolls his eyes as he looks at Ignis. ]

I feel like this is what being you is like. I hate it. What's in the sandwich?

[calcitrants]

I do quite enjoy it, actually.

[ spoiled, demanding cats that they are -- although rascal is easier to wrangle. he picks rascal up and settles down beside his prince, setting the cat on his lap and feeding him choice chunks of chicken in his other hand.

evidently, he can't let rascal go empty-handed, right? ]

Roast chicken.

[ technically not a lie. after all, there are only so many times he can crumble up vegetables in meat for noctis to unwittingly eat them. ]

It's a beautiful day, isn't it?

[allumer]

Of course you'd say that. You're a natural, that's why.

[ Noctis is not here to live the cat mum life. He'll let Ignis handle it with all his experience. However that doesn't mean he can go ahead and baby this stray! Noctis gives them both a pointed look as he puts his fishing rod down and takes a seat beside them, unwrapping the cute little makeshift packaging Ignis made for him and his snack.

It still feels a little weird, having Ignis suddenly around, but his stomach appreciates it for sure. And of course, Noctis himself. He's sure the chicken must taste great.

He opens it up, stars picking through the meat.

Immediately the greens get tossed. :) ]

It's really nice, yeah. I wonder how long the sun's gonna be out. I hope it's a while.

[ Noct gives his sandwich a squish then takes a bite. Ah, nothing but meat, and just as he thought the chicken tastes great. That's exactly what he wants. ]

text;

[mcvillain]

[It's morning, bright and early. Maybe a bit too early for some but he almost feels like he knows Ignis as well as himself at this point and so also knows he wasn't the sort to lounge until noon. Unlike some men he could name. McGillis shoots him a message, its chipper tone evident even through the text.]

Here for our daily lessons, my dear instructor.

What shall I bring today? I tried making some of that frittata, but...

Ah, I may have burned it. Please forgive me.

Anyway, when I should I arrive?

[calcitrants]

[ it's also actually early enough in the day that ignis hasn't decided to go to bed yet, alone in his kitchen with an almost empty bottle of wine and an almost full bottle of whiskey.

the text surprises him, because he's clearly lost track of time. ]

My sincere apologies, McGillis. Perhaps we may have to reschedule to another day.

[ ...and he's desolate enough not to comment on the burned frittata (because what did you do to the innocent frittata, mcgillis), which is a beacon of wrongness bright enough to signal ships at sea. but also the rescheduling thing because ignis scientia never reschedules. ever. ]

[mcvillain]

[Well, that was... unusual. He wasn't offended, everyone needed time to themselves on occasion, but this struck him as odd. It's a little too terse and, being the brilliant man that he was, McGillis immediately picks up on something amiss. Unfortunately for Ignis and his desire to dwell alone.]

Is something the matter, Ignis?

You always have some culinary words of wisdom for my unworthy ears.

...especially when I screw up a dish so egregiously.

[calcitrants]

[ there's a couple minutes of silence -- he doesn't mean to be terse, not to mcgillis, and the man's perceptiveness is a reminder that he's presently tired of being on his own right now. maybe -- ]

I'm sorry. It has just been a very long night. If it is not too much of an imposition, would you be able to come over?

[ then, the next text, a welcome distraction: ]

Were the frittatas oven-made or over the stove?

action;

[mcvillain]

[A new dream begins and washes over both men.

This time, it was far from a nightmare. This time, it invokes the mood of celebration: McGillis Fareed has prevailed over the Arianrhod Fleet and seized full control of Gjallarhorn. His forces were slim but strong; McGillis himself was surprisingly modest and merciful in the face of victory and chose to imprison his vanquished foes as opposed to barbaric execution, as expected.

Except for Rustal Elion, of course. He fell to a firing squad, stoic and proud to the very end.

In the aftermath, McGillis retreated to his personal quarters, to the safety of his office. And he has pulled along his most esteemed soldier, his loyal lieutenant, Ignis Scientia. Ignis had distinguished himself in battle and struck the decisive blow against Vidar, his fierce adversary. Vidar, forced to flee, who he doubts that anyone will ever see again. Quite unfortunate.

But fortunately, he has a nice bottle of champagne for a special occasion. He pours a glass for Ignis, then for himself, perched on the edge of his desk.]

As handsome as ever, I see. And not a single scratch on you.

[Naturally, he was going to flirt. Everyone knew that McGillis had a soft spot for his lieutenant, now hailing him with a raise of his wine.]

To your incredible luck, Ignis. And to our victory.

[calcitrants]

[ there is wisdom in imprisonment over execution, and grace wins more allies over roughshod tyranny -- although these principles don't make it any less challenging when it comes to extending mercy to his foes in the heat of battle.

ignis' genius may lie foremost in his battle strategies, his gift, too, is that cold-blooded ruthlessness and the willingness to do whatever it takes to get things done. but this gift, like every other skill in his arsenal, is simply a formidable means to an end -- chief of it being securing mcgillis' place as the head of gjallarhorn.

what he regrets, however, is not being able to land the killing blow when he could -- nothing personal, he just prefers to tie up loose ends rather than let them come back to bite them in the ass later.

but there are safeguards to prevent that from happening, he's seen to it the moment he returned from battle instead of attending to the victory party the other pilots and personnel had thrown in mcgillis' honour. they deserve this break, he supposes; their fleet had crew had been lean and outmatched in nearly everything but strategic brilliance and skill.

mcgillis, more than anyone, had worked the hardest and had most to lose, and ignis had dedicated his life to his purpose, to clean out gjallarhorn from inside and to remake it in the general's image as he uses it as a stepping stone to greater deeds.

ignis understands him instinctively, grasping the tenets of mcgillis' ambition the moment they met -- and in the years since, he had risen up the ranks as the youngest lieutenant to earn the general's trust and favour (and personally, he doesn't care for the rumours that he'd done most of his advancing in his general's bed).

he smiles briefly when he enters mcgillis' personal quarters, warming to him the way he rarely does for others. he's changed back into his uniform, and he takes the glass that mcgillis offers, clinking it to his. to their victory. ]

I would consider that more skill than luck, sir. [ a lesser man would have mistaken his words for unfounded arrogance -- ignis simply knows where his strengths lie. he's enjoying mcgillis' flirtation and returning it playfully, an amused twinkle in his eye. the adrenaline of the battle still sings in his veins, and his handsome brigadier general doesn't help matters, perched like that on his desk. ]

It's almost a shame; a few scars would have added to my credibility.

[mcvillain]

[Ignis was brilliant. Brilliant and bold and a thousand other things besides, everyone knew that McGillis Fareed had a soft spot for his lieutenant and everyone also knew why: next to the Brigadier General, he was easily the most talented among their ranks. It had been all hands on deck for the final battle but his mind for strategy behind closed doors was undeniable.

And so surprisingly, there was no jealousy to go around. Ignis had earned his status and thus had earned a night with the newly crowned leader of Gjallarhorn.]

How could I disagree? You always did look a little too smooth-skinned..

[If McGillis was aware of the effect he was having, he makes no move to acknowledge it. Just sips on his champagne.]

You should prepare for tomorrow. They'll want to interview the both of us.

[Us. It sounded all too appropriate, falling from his lips—as if that had not been the first time.]

[calcitrants]

Ah, yes. I've drafted all your answers, as well as a few talking points for tomorrow.

[ ignis steps up close to him deliberately, leaning over him to reach out, around --

-- and picks up the electronic information pad to offer it to him. ignis has made it sufficiently clear from the outside that he has no ambitions for mcgillis' position, no intention to move beyond being his right hand. more than military strategy, ignis has a canny mind for public relations and optics, already having anticipated victory and prepared for the next steps as his general solidifies his command. his mind, his heart, and all that he has at his disposal belongs to mcgillis.

he huffs a soft chuckle at the comment on his skin, however, but moves on to the important topics -- ]

I believe it should just be you. [ he says gently. while he likes the idea of 'us', it's imperative that the newly crowned leader of gjallarhorn imprints fully on the rest of the leadership, and the world at large. ] I've also arranged for a few press interviews for late in the evening. [ he stays just barely within mcgillis' personal space, his gaze flickering up to him. his smile is soft, encouraging, but brooks no refusal. ]

Your charm and brilliance is what's needed now. There's no need to dilute it with my presence.

at last; backdated to sometime after noctis vanishes

[luciing]

[ Various freshwater rivers, ponds, and lagoons are scattered about the island like streaks of highlight upon a portrait of the dawn. Many build their homes near these pools, and many more use them to acquire wild fish for their suppers when the sea rages too much for practical use. Standing upon the ruddy, mucked bank of one river is a familiar face.

Somnus wouldn't have stopped for him under normal circumstances, even with a tenuous history shared upon this island.

However, there's something odd about this picture: drenched thoroughly through, hair matted to his face, solitary, and appearing as if a mountain weighs upon his back, the man remains frozen with fishing rod in hand; the lure, already beaten useless by the flooding waters. He is lost-- in thought, perhaps, if not to some sort of gripping matter.

This, is odd. ]

Chamberlin.

[ He approaches from behind, obliquely, but keeps a respectful distance of a meter or two. Despite this, his call may be clearly heard above the shower of water upon them both. As for Somnus, he pays the rain no heed. It has been ages since he's felt such nature upon his skin. ]

[calcitrants]

[ ignis doesn't really care about the weather, even if he's drenched to the bone, like he'd taken a swim in the lake and then decided to just stay there, fishing rod in hand like that sort of emulation can summon noctis back sooner.

foolish things, but rationality has no place when it comes to a broken heart, one that yearns for the one thing that's given his life meaning.

he hears the founder king approaching before he sees him, the quiet weight of that simple word, but he doesn't turn around. ]

Your Majesty.

[ he's pretty sure he's lost all awareness of the cold rain or the chilly wind -- he doesn't care. but he finally turns his head to that voice, before he lays eyes on that familiar face, his chest clenching briefly. ]

[luciing]

[ His steps fall short of reaching him, but when Ignis turns to face him, their eyes lock. Somnus holds his gaze as the rain continues to fall.

...Often enough, they meet when the island has some sort of enchantment or extra incident occurring. For a moment, he wonders if the other man stands enchanted by the water. That is not the case here. Ignis is not lost to enchantment, but perhaps lost in thought to something else. Grief? Anger? He can guess the former, perhaps, given present circumstances....

Regardless, he needs to be ushered out of this wed, relentless cold, lest illness befall him. He raises a hand, motioning it towards himself. ]

Follow.

[ As numb as he appears to the weather, perhaps he will be absent in heart enough to be compliant, so that Somnus might bring to shelter. ]

[calcitrants]

[ he should be more put-together than this. the man staring at him through the rain is the foundation on which all the kings of lucis are built, and yet ignis is here, mourning his prince's absence, dreading what will come for him after.

he takes a moment to register the command, and ignis hesitates only for a moment before he complies and follows after him quietly. after all, what else can he do, what does it matter? ]

from: https://lusi.dreamwidth.org/70576.html?thread=11991728#cmt11991728

[warpspammer]

A little indulgence never killed anyone.

[ that's a hell of a big lie, though. nyx knows cigarettes are well documented to do just exactly that. but it's a habit he picked up when he first arrived in insomnia he's never been able to kick. losing noctis had certainly kicked up the stress enough for the both of them.

a short time later there's a knock on ignis' door. when he opens it, he'll find nyx on the other side. he's traded the full kingsglaive uniform for a partial version of it. the pants and boots are the same, but the shirt and sweater aren't. he's cradling raben in one arm, and the cat has his paws set on nyx's shoulder, looking over his own shoulder to ignis. ]

One brat, as requested.

[calcitrants]

I wouldn't call you a brat. ...often.

[ despite the heaviness of the situation, the loss and pain and anxiety ignis endures quietly in noctis' absence, ignis still finds it himself to crack a weak joke.

nyx is a sight for sore eyes, welcome and much-needed, and he reaches out to scritch behind the cat's ears briefly before leading him into the house. rascal bounds over now, deciding to wind between nyx's ankles because he's just that kind of cat. ]

Come on in. I've heated up some coffee and tea.

[warpspammer]

I meant the cat.

[ nyx's tone is flat, just enough emotion levied into it to make it clear he's joking. he's glad to lay eyes on ignis, though. it's been a bit since they've seen each other, even before the prince's disappearance.

he leans down to pet rascal, letting the cat smell his hand. meanwhile, raben climbs up onto his shoulders, leaning against the side of his head as he looks down at the other cat. nyx stands, and both stay easily balanced as he trails after ignis. ]

You managed to get a hold of coffee so I don't have to walk into that godawful maid cafe? My hero.

[ he offers ignis a small smile. he doesn't know how to bring up that he looked for noctis for days. that he knows ignis must have as well. ]

[calcitrants]

[ the sentiment is the same -- he's missed nyx; the man tends to roam wherever and however he wants, but eventually he's always turned up like clockwork. after all, ignis doesn't have to worry about nyx, the glaive has always known to take care of himself.

even so, it's a relief to know that he's still here.

he stills at the mention of coffee, mouth dry, but he manages to smile back, strained and fleeting. ]

Noct requested for a crate of it for me. I've been rationing it.

[ he hasn't touched it in a few days (call it sentimentality; ignis sure as hell isn't going to look too deeply into that), but since nyx is here, he can spare a couple.

so he pours it into a cup and offers it to him. ]

You've searched everywhere too, I assume.

distressed meowing

[allumer]

[ As Noctis hobbles his way out of the ice cold waters of the ocean, he humbles himself with the knowledge that this is the unpleasant way that new arrivals make it onto the island. But come on, what the hell, Augur? At least make arriving more pleasant in the middle of winter. There's snow dusted all over in the distance, which wasn't there last time he was in the city. It hits him then, the unnerving fact that he doesn't know how long he's been gone, what happened, if the people he remembers are still there.

One of the dutiful robots catches this soaked wet cat and hands over a communicator, and with a mumbled thanks Noctis takes it as he trudges his way over the snow and sand, crunching under his wet boots. He goes through the resident listing.

And there's Ignis' name. His chest feels tight and unpleasant, but maybe, it's just that he's freezing cold. His fingers are almost numb but he manages to type out a message anyway. Deletes it. Types another. Deletes that one too. Shit, what does he even say?

'Say something, idiot, so he just knows you're here.' ]

At the beach. Come pick me up.

MOMMY'S HERE, BABY ;_;

[calcitrants]

[ noctis doesn't have long to wait, because in his absence, ignis finds himself frequenting the fishing spots he knows noctis likes -- and during periods like these, he finds himself on the beach, hoping that he would be with the latest batch of arrivals.

he's been disappointed a couple of times before, but today when his devices buzzes and that familiar name pops up, he feels his mouth go dry.

noctis is back. he's returned, and he clearly remembers him. ignis even excuses the brusque tone of it -- coming out from the cold sea water is not the most pleasant of experiences, and ignis is already sprinting down the length of the beach to look for him.

his heart's in his mouth, and he hopes, he hopes this isn't a dream.

he stops only when he spots a wet, bedraggled kitty noctis, and immediately draws out a big, warm fluffy towel from the armiger, holding it out to him. ]

...Noct.

😭

[allumer]

[ He's sort of debating on what to do while he waits. Taking temporary shelter in one of the nearby shacks would be a good idea, but it'd make it harder to find him, and he doesn't want Ignis to feel like he's been lied to. So, Noctis stands there with his arms wrapped around his trembling, cold body, feeling more than just a little miserable.

The feeling should alleviate the moment he hears footsteps in the sand and he looks, and there's Ignis, right along the shore, but it doesn't. He didn't come from the direction of the city. He came from the beach, like he was already there. Having been on the island for so long, Noctis has caught on to the flow of arrivals and the usual tradition of their appearance: always on the beach. For Ignis to have already been here, when he has no reason to be out here on the beach...

It's just a coincidence, right? It's not like he was waiting for him. It's not like he's been out here before.

As Ignis steps forward and ushers what seems to be a towel out of the armiger, Noctis' voice catches in his throat.

He was waiting. He's been waiting, all this time. ]

Why do you even have that in there?

[ His voice strains to show the humor in the statement as he takes the towel, wraps it around himself, holds it in a tight white knuckled grip.

Noctis thinks about being in that crystal, and everyone waiting for him. Ignis waiting for him, like this, and he knows he shouldn't because he's dripping wet and he'll mess up Ignis' clothes.

He steps forward and presses into him, that wet mess of hair nudging into Ignis' chest. ]

I left without saying goodbye again. Sorry.

[calcitrants]

[ ignis doesn't care if noctis gets his shirt wet, the important thing is that he's here, he's safe, and out of destiny's reach. he can feel the cold seawater seep into his shirt, but the resulting warmth of his prince's body pressed up against his is enough for him to endure the discomfort.

he recognises that look on realisation in those blue eyes when noctis inevitably puts the pieces together -- that ignis has been here on the beach waiting for him for this time. does he need to ask why, when he already knows the answer?

ignis doesn't respond, and only squeezes him tighter. ]

Apology accepted.

[ he says softly, even if noctis doesn't need to apologise at all. he buries his face in that wet mess of hair briefly, before letting go, swallowing the inexplicable lump in his throat. ]

It's cold. Let's go back to my place and get you warmed up.